Passenger Trains > WSJ: Next-Generation Acela Rail Cars Taking Shape in N.Y. Factory

Sub heading: "Amtrak’s new $2 billion fleet of high-speed trains, built by France’s Alstom, will enter service in two years"

Intro paragraph:
"HORNELL, N.Y.—The future of American high-speed rail is sitting in a building older than the Battle of Gettysburg: a cavernous factory that holds the first shells of a $2 billion fleet of Amtrak Acela trains due to begin running from Washington, D.C., to Boston two years from now...."

Here's the URL to the article - May pose pay wall issues for some:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/next-generation-acela-rail-cars-taking-shape-in-n-y-factory-11557662401?tesla=y&mod=e2fb&fbclid=IwAR16pOUX5Xc03KLl_Wg_uC9MdSZXtgLpiF6gvhU0vx3Eyfh_amEfyTg5IXE



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/19 03:26 by JPB.

THe NEC is not "high speed" rail compared with other countries with HSR.

Positive article!

Of interest, the new sets are based on the Alstom Avelia frame;The new Acelas will be just one meter (about three feet) longer than the current trains, but with shorter power cars and redesigned passenger cars. Amtrak says they will carry one-third more passengers with a maximum capacity of 378, up from the current 304.Amtrak says the new trains will have upgraded interiors, including outlets and USB ports at each seat and wheelchair accessibility in every restroom. The railroad also said the lightweight design will improve efficiency by 20%, while a regenerative braking system will return some power to the overhead catenary wire system. Track improvements and the new trains’ suspension system will allow for a smoother ride, Amtrak says.The first of the 28 new Acelas is scheduled to enter service in summer 2021,

Keep us updated. It will be interesting to see how they work out.

Posted from Android

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Of interest, the new sets are based on the Alstom
> Avelia frame;

And Alstom Avelia frame of the variety used for Avelia Liberty is based in the old TGV Reseau frame (i.e. short cars mounted on Jacobs Trucks that connect the cars together), except that the trucks are modified to include a Pendolino style tilt system

I am still skeptical that legroom, or personal space of some sort, is not going to be infringed upon, given that 30% more seating is provided, and the trainsets are only going to be a tiny bit longer than present Acela Express trainsets. Even with smaller power cars etc. etc. Hope it works out......Americans in general are not getting thinner, hate to say. 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amtraks-next-generation-acela-cars-taking-shape-2019-05-12

I had hoped the new Acela might look like the BrightLine coach.

Very comfortable, lots of legroom...

Posted from Android

Watching the Anderson administration, we will immediately hear that the present ACELA fleet is "out of date", "no parts are available", "too expensive to fix", etc.    The usual lame excuses for not maintaining equipment.  They will want to scrap it.

Why not rebuild ACELA 1 and use it for regular trains in the NEC.   Then demote Amfleet to the rest of the country, which has NO train service at all ( Nashville, Columbus, OH, Phoenix, Tulsa, Las Vegas).   

Nobody wants the Acela power units. 

Turning Acela coaches into standard railroad coaches is VERY expensive, more complicated than meets the eye.. Then you would have a small, oddball fleet that has nothing in common with the expect Siemens cars. You'd also have to modify them with steps and trap doors. 

These train-less states can have cascaded Horizon cars in a couple of years if they want them. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/19 14:19 by joemvcnj.

I thought the plan was to cascade the current Acela equipment into Regional service.

No longer true?

Posted from Android

Are the coaches lighter than Acela's? I know they are shorter, but in total is this a lighter trainset? The Acelas were built very heavy due to US crash worthiness standards of the time. Have those standards changed at all?

Erik Leeper
Phoenix, AZ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/19 15:18 by Tower_A-20.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> I thought the plan was to cascade the current Acela equipment into Regional service.
>
> No longer true?

I don't think that was ever true, or for that matter run them as is for Keystone service sans Bistro car.
The whole point of disposal are maintenance expenses and parts issues.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Watching the Anderson administration, we will
> immediately hear that the present ACELA fleet is
> "out of date", "no parts are available", "too
> expensive to fix", etc.    The usual lame
> excuses for not maintaining equipment.  They will
> want to scrap it.
>
> Why not rebuild ACELA 1 and use it for regular
> trains in the NEC.   Then demote Amfleet to the
> rest of the country, which has NO train service at
> all ( Nashville, Columbus, OH, Phoenix, Tulsa, Las
> Vegas).   

This was the plan from the beginning.

Acela has been a maintenance boondoggle from the start. David Gunn was not a fan. I doubt it has gotten better over the years. 

Regarding the below, not sure of the details on this, but it does mention a “waiver” was obtained to import the aluminum “honeycomb shells” of the cars....But just because it is lighter, does that affect crashworthiness? Can’t imagine the FRA waivering on this but curious as to how this all “translates.” 

Love how the article makes it seem that there’s some positive operating net income produced from NEC services. “Above” the rail - maybe, but add in capital expense (depreciation expense) to keep that corridor maintained and going, and it goes negative real quick.

“Half hour Acela service” - maybe for the south-end, as it also indicates Amtrak is looking to re-introduce non-stop Washington DC to NYC service - and some sort of “limited stop service,” which means they will add Philadelphia in. North of NYC, can’t imagine anything more than hourly service. Plus there are already limited with the maritime traffic bridge openings. Perhaps a more limited non-stop between Boston and NYP (Boston, Back Bay, Providence, Stamford, NYP). 

Even with the Acela Express trainsets, Amtrak can’t even get back to a 2:45 schedule between NYP and WAS. Afraid that timing has been lost to growing “congestion” and the increased timing it takes to get to/from Newark and NYP. Amtrak has tried to compensate with higher speeds through straight-aways in NJ (installation of renewed catenary and constant tension catenary) and Delaware/Maryland......

Tower_A-20 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are the coaches lighter than Acela's? I know they
> are shorter, but in total is this a lighter
> trainset? The Acelas were built very heavy due to
> US crash worthiness standards of the time. Have
> those standards changed at all?

In Metroliner days, they tried Expresses, off hourly clock-pattern extras, Harrisburg, New Haven, Philly originations. They all failed. 

ACS locos make better time then the AEM-7's did. If the schedules have not been sped up, they can make up time easier if late. With new Siemens coach replacements of Amfleet, the differential of quality and timeliness between Regional and Acela is minimized. The New Haven line will continue to be an obstacle course. Higher fare Acela may not seem worth it for time saved for more people. The Acela-II consists also will be expanded. They already have the majority of the air-rail market. All those things combine so that growth for the Acela market will have its constraints. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/19 08:24 by joemvcnj.

MEKoch Wrote:
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> Watching the Anderson administration...

 

It took 10 posts for someone to blame Mr. Anderson.

People are slacking off. Should be able to blame him by post # 6. Step it up.

The old Metroliners became Capitols on the Harrisburg line. Could this be the future for the current Acelas? Rebranded as Cap IIs, maybe?
 

Do you think PennDOT will make lease payments on them, and absorb their unique maintenace facilities and costs, now located in Boston, Sunnyside, and DC ?